Form Sixth
Success Stories
MAKES ST JOHN’S
SUCH AN
Sixth Form exceptional EXPERIENCE
Our recent Upper Sixth Leavers (2024) achieved an outstanding set of A level results Over a third of the year group achieved all A*- A grades and there are some exceptional subject performances including over 80% A*-A grades in mathematics (82%), further mathematics (89%), business (92%), art (100%) music (100%) and computer science (100%).
These results are the best St John’s has ever achieved; a significant reflection of the continued focus and investment in the drive for greater academic ambition and aspirations for our pupils. This leaving year group must also be commended on their incredible resilience and strength of character which St John’s prides itself on developing in every pupil.
“PUPILS’ INDEPENDENT STUDY SKILLS ARE STRONGLY DEVELOPED IN THE SCHOOL AND PUPILS SHOW STEADFAST DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED… THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUPILS’ KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS ACROSS ALL AREAS OF LEARNING IS EXCELLENT
ISI Inspection May 2022
“THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE PUPILS SECURED A PLACE AT THEIR FIRST-CHOICE UNIVERSITY.
We asked our recent Sixth Form leavers the best thing about their Sixth Form experiences
Some of my highlights have been the drama productions I performed in and helped direct and being a CCF Sergeant. Alongside the myriad of opportunities and the constant friendly and supportive environment.
Sixth Form was a massive change, but I thoroughly enjoyed the independence and freedom and doing three subjects which I loved. My teachers were all great, helping me throughout and always giving excellent feedback.
Besides the academics, the inclusive environment of St John’s allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and tap into the extracurricular opportunities which I had not got involved in since primary school.
The house staff have always been supportive and helpful. My Housemaster phoned me on results day which was very touching. One of the best parts of the Sixth Form experience is the freedom it brings, as there was the ability to do homework and revision during study periods, meaning I had more time in the evenings and at the weekends to go to football training and watch the mighty QPR.
Although challenging at times, Sixth Form was my favourite part of my school journey. Being able to study subjects in more depth was very enjoyable, and having that different dynamic in class, of being in a smaller group and having more time with our teachers was really valuable. It also gave us a higher sense of freedom and independence, which sparked a sense of maturity as I knew people were trusting me to put the work in and do well for myself, this really helped me grow as a person and I know will help me a lot at university.
The best thing for me was being given additional responsibility. I liked that we were encouraged to make our own decisions and given more freedom by the House team which will help us integrate into university and life outside school.
The opportunities! So many things..... finally being old enough to get the best parts in the productions and being able to perform those with all my friends, being a part of the choir and schola and being a prefect. As a prefect I gave an assembly to the whole senior school, led the House in competitions and enjoyed extra privileges. It’s more responsibility but it’s also way more fun.
JAMIE
CHARLOTTE
EDDIE
CLARA
THEO AMELIA
SAM
JOINED: Lower Sixth
A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A B EPQ B
UNIVERSITY: Exeter
COURSE Sport and Exercise Science
HOW DID YOU FIND JOINING ST JOHN’S IN THE SIXTH FORM?
To be perfectly honest, it was the best decision of my life! The friendships I have built and the community that I can now proudly say I belong to is one that I hold dear, and one that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
St John’s is an incredible school, with outstanding facilities and teaching; but more than anything else, it is the people who make it so special. It is difficult to stay goodbye for now but I will definitely stay in touch and I’m hoping to work at the multi-sport camp again next year!
WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ABOUT YOUR TIME IN HOUSE?
Firstly, the community. Coming from a state school, there is never really an opportunity for such a community to be formed. At St John’s, belonging to a house is an opportunity to be part of something really special. It also fosters incredible relationships, not only with your friends, but also with teachers and matron. Getting involved with house competitions encourages individuals to express themselves in a way which suits them, be it with a guitar or a rugby ball.
DID YOU TAKE ON ANY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING YOUR TIME AT ST JOHN’S?
The improvements I have seen in my rugby ability over the two years has been like nothing I have ever experienced, and something that will certainly propel me towards my dream. My coaches pushed me to improve, were available for conversations about the game and were open to hearing what I thought, which challenged me to look at things in a different way.
HAVE YOU HELD ANY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND DID YOU ENJOY THEM?
I had a position of leadership in rugby and spent the majority of the Sevens season as Captain, which was incredibly enjoyable.
J OINED: Fourth Form
A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A* A*
UNIVERSITY: Oxford
COURSE Chemistry
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY AND FIELD OF STUDY?
I chose the subject I loved the most. My chemistry teachers throughout my time at St John’s had always been soenthusiastic. That imprinted onto me and I grew to love the science of making things explode and mixing chemicals together to make something useful. The Sixth Form team advised me on which universities would suit me and encouraged me to push myself to apply for Oxford. I ended up choosing Oxford University after the School organised a visit to the open day event, and it was everything I wanted in a university!
THINKING BACK TO YOUR TIME IN THE LOWER SIXTH, HOW DID THE CORE CURRICULUM AND YOUR FOURTH OPTION HELP YOU?
I never really knew much about economics and it was something I was quite worried about moving away to university as it just seemed like there was so much you had to know. Fortunately, the financial literacy module gave me a place to start and a good foundation of knowledge to learn how to manage my finances when living independently, including loans, mortgages, interest and debt, which I greatly appreciate. The political understanding module emphasised the importance of using your vote to make a change. It was most useful to learn about how Parliament worked and find out about the different political parties so that, when the time came to vote, we could actually vote for the change we wanted.
DID YOU TAKE ON ANY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING YOUR TIME AT ST JOHN’S?
I got to try shooting for the first time and I represented St John’s at many competitions; I am now looking forward to joining both my university rifle team and the Old Johnian rifle team.
I have enjoyed volunteering at the Community Holiday (a week long residential holiday for children with complex special needs), and I can confidently say I will keep doing it every year that I can. It was challenging, but so rewarding.
I was also honoured to represent St John’s in the Rotary Debating Competition 2023-24, where my two teammates and I debated eloquently about whether or not it is moral to be a billionaire, and we reached the national southern final. I also edited the Eagle Politics magazine (the pupil led politics magazine) which resulted in us being invited to the national Shine Media Awards, where one of our articles was highly commended for ‘Best Scoop’ and the magazine as a whole was highly commended for ‘Best Overall Content- Digital’ which was an incredible experience.
HAVE YOU HELD ANY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND DID YOU ENJOY THEM?
I was lucky enough to be Hawkins House Captain in my Upper Sixth year, and it was truly an honour. I also led the Equality and Diversity Group for two years, which I greatly enjoyed, having attended since I was in Fourth Form. We organised assemblies, raised money for charity, did poster campaigns and PSHE lessons, and a whole manner of other things to make the School community more aware.
“INSPECTORS NOTED A WARMTH OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUPILS AND THEIR TEACHERS, WHOSE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SKILFULLY MANAGED CLASS QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO PUPIL CONFIDENCE AND PROMOTED EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION
ISI Inspection May 2022
Jack
J OINED: Fourth Form
A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A* A EPQ A
UNIVERSITY: Edinburgh
COURSE Spanish and History
HOW DID YOU FIND THE SIXTH FORM AT ST JOHN’S?
I enjoyed the step up in both responsibility and independence that Sixth Form life at St John’s offers. I felt no change in the continuous pastoral support that I had always received, particularly within my House, West, and therefore felt that the transition from Upper Fifth to Sixth Form was very smooth.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY AND FIELD OF STUDY?
Having been encouraged by the Sixth Form team to attend as many open days as possible, even if virtual, it became clear to me that Edinburgh was where I wanted to study because of the appeal of the city and most importantly the nature of the course.
THINKING BACK TO YOUR TIME IN THE LOWER SIXTH, HOW DID THE CORE CURRICULUM AND YOUR FOURTH OPTION HELP YOU?
I thought that the core curriculum was particularly useful in developing and understanding important skills in preparation for life beyond school such as learning to manage relationships and finances. I particularly enjoyed the political understanding module and it provided an opportunity to explore an area I’m interested in. Taking an EPQ in Lower Sixth allowed me to extensively research an area of interest concerning the law and what was particularly rewarding was the grade reductions it brought from certain universities!
WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ABOUT YOUR TIME IN HOUSE?
As a weekly boarder have found my house, West, to be the most enjoyable aspect of my time in the Sixth Form. The community across all year groups within West, and especially amongst the Sixth Form, has allowed me to form friendships which I know will outlive my time at St John’s.
DID YOU TAKE ON ANY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING YOUR TIME AT ST JOHN’S?
I took part in the CCF which allowed me to not only lead large sections of younger cadets, but to also write articles and produce the media content on behalf of the CCF for the School. This allowed me to feature my articles and content in the School magazine and on the website, for which I am very grateful, given my interest in journalism. Given my other passion for debating, I also loved taking part in regional debating.
HAVE YOU HELD ANY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND DID YOU ENJOY THEM?
I was fortunate enough to be the Deputy School Captain and this allowed me the opportunity to co-lead the School’s Pupil Parliament. I really enjoyed the opportunity to be at the forefront of real change led by the pupils and give something back to the School community. Being able to act as the bridge between pupils and staff, meeting regularly with both pupils and The Head, brought with it the opportunity to enact real change, including changes to the lunch menu and the introduction of a tuck shop.
J OINED: Lower Sixth
A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A* A EPQ A*
UNIVERSITY: Warwick
COURSE English literature and German
HOW DID YOU FIND JOINING ST JOHN’S IN THE SIXTH FORM?
I was made to feel welcome straight away by my teachers and peers which was something I found hugely valuable, especially as I was coming into a co-ed school for the first time. They were kind and patient while I got used to my new surroundings, but I started to settle in quickly. From the day joined, I had a group who immediately welcomed me and gave me a sense of belonging, despite me being new. The girls in my tutor group were kind, and the house staff and teachers were amazingly supportive, helpful, and fun.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY AND FIELD OF STUDY?
As I progressed through my A levels, I soon realised what my favourite subjects were. The Sixth Form team helped me find the right course and university, and as I was unsure about what career I would like in the future, they gave me amazing advice about which courses and universities would be most enjoyable, but also most useful to me.
THINKING BACK TO YOUR TIME IN THE LOWER SIXTH, HOW DID THE CORE CURRICULUM AND YOUR FOURTH OPTION HELP YOU?
My favourite part of the core curriculum was the political understanding module, as it allowed me to develop my knowledge of the British political system. It also gave me the confidence to develop my own political opinions and beliefs, inspiring me to vote in the recent general election.
I completed an EPQ as my Fourth Option in Lower Sixth, and it taught me skills such as referencing, research, and concise writing which will all be useful at university.
DID YOU TAKE ON ANY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING YOUR TIME AT ST JOHN’S?
I was part of the Music Department, playing the French horn in the orchestra, brass ensemble, and I had individual music lessons. I really enjoyed the many concerts, playing both solo and in ensembles. The department encouraged me to be more confident in my musical abilities, and inspired me to take brilliant opportunities that were given to me.
I have volunteered for the Community Holiday (a week long residential holiday for children with complex special needs) for the last two years. Although challenging, the experience is certainly rewarding and good fun.
HAVE YOU HELD ANY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND DID YOU ENJOY THEM?
I was both a School Prefect and House Prefect for charity and cultures. I really enjoyed being in these roles as they helped me develop my leadership and organisational skills. My roles allowed me to further understand the importance of positive leadership and teamwork, and developed my enjoyment and motivation for volunteering and charity work –all skills which I am sure will serve me well in the future.
“PUPILS DEMONSTRATED AN EXCELLENT ABILITY TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES AND COLLABORATE WITH THEIR PEERS, PROVIDING DEEPLY THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS TO HELP DEVELOP THEIR OWN MORAL COMPASS
ISI Inspection May 2022
JOINED: Lower Third A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A A EPQ A UNIVERSITY: Nottingham COURSE Psychology
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY AND FIELD OF STUDY?
I decided to continue to study psychology at Nottingham University as I enjoyed it so much at A level. My psychology teachers helped guide me to a University which offered a course that best suited me. I chose Nottingham due to the amazing campus, course opportunities and accommodation.
THINKING BACK TO YOUR TIME IN THE LOWER SIXTH, HOW DID THE CORE CURRICULUM AND YOUR FOURTH OPTION HELP YOU?
I completed an EPQ and I found it allowed me to do research in an area that I found interesting. I also found the process of creating my EPQ final essay and presentation gave me new skills, such as time management and my independent research also gave me knowledge of psychology that I was able to talk about in my personal statement.
WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ABOUT YOUR TIME IN HOUSE?
Some of my favourite moments during my time at St John’s were in South House, as it was a place that I always felt comfortable, supported and uplifted. I made so many friendships across year groups, especially in boarding where we all came together as a community.
DID YOU TAKE ON ANY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING YOUR TIME AT ST JOHN’S?
I took part in the volunteering conservation trip to Shamwari in South Africa. This was an incredible opportunity for me, and I learnt so many new skills whilst helping restore the wildlife and supporting the local community.
HAVE YOU HELD ANY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND DID YOU ENJOY THEM?
I was Deputy House Captain and boarding prefect of South House. I really enjoyed stepping up to these roles as I loved giving back to my house and being a role model for the younger girls. I also really enjoyed working with other pupils to help improve the House, and being a friendly face in the boarding community.
JOINED: Fourth Form
A LEVEL RESULTS: A A C and A for Maths in Context
UNIVERSITY Cardiff
COURSE: Accounting and Finance with a Professional Placement Year
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY AND FIELD OF STUDY?
I chose this course because of the varied work experience I have done at many different types of businesses in the last two years, the Maths in Context course that I studied as my fourth option and my business studies A level. St John’s helped me through the UCAS process and gave me many different opportunities to join talks with people currently working in the sectors that interest me.
DID YOU TAKE ON ANY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING YOUR TIME AT ST JOHN’S?
I had many positions of responsibility and achievements while at St John’s, including completing my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, competing for the first team in both hockey and tennis as well as setting up and captaining the School badminton team through an undefeated season. I also spent a lot of time volunteering in the CCF as well as with the St John’s Community Holiday (a week long residential holiday for children with complex special needs) during my summer holiday.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT ST JOHN’S?
The best thing about St John’s overall is the vast selection of co-curricular activities as well as the support you receive from your teachers. I was able to go to any of my teachers to have one to one time with them to ensure that I fully understood recent topics, homework and to check in regarding my progress, particularly during my A level years. They always made time for me.
“(PUPILS) UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR OWN EFFORTS AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THEIR TEACHERS. THEY TAKE PART IN LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES WITH ENTHUSIASM AND ARE KEEN TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
ISI Inspection May 2022
George
JOINED: Fourth Form
A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A* A*
UNIVERSITY Exeter
COURSE: Business Economics
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY AND FIELD OF STUDY?
I always loved the macro side of economics, where you study the structure and performance of the economy as a whole and look at issues such as the effects of interest rate changes and government spending. Therefore the combination of business and economics in one university course made perfect sense. My teachers were very helpful in my search for the right course. I spent my summer doing work experience at various financial institutions, working as a lifeguard for Camp Beaumont and as a “mystery shopper” for Serve Legal, testing whether retailers checked ID for age restricted products.
DID YOU TAKE ON ANY FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES DURING YOUR TIME AT ST JOHN’S?
I was the Sport Prefect in Monty House for my final year, meaning I picked sports teams, promoted sport and events across all years in house, and gave speeches and presented prizes. I was also captain of my football team and I acted as compere at the Monty Charity Night, which involved introducing acts and generating enthusiasm amongst the pupils, parents and teachers.
WHAT
IS THE BEST THING ABOUT ST JOHN’S?
Best thing about St John’s, overall - The house football competition was brilliant every year. We would spend weeks drafting out formations and tactics, despite the fact that we rarely won. The few games we won caused riotous celebrations, especially the 2-0 win in the plate final in Upper Sixth.
Annabel
JOINED: Fourth Form
A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A* A*
UNIVERSITY Bristol
COURSE: Liberal Arts
WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ABOUT YOUR TIME IN HOUSE?
I began St John’s in Fourth Form (Year 9) and joined Gloucester House which I immediately loved. The House feel was so special, and I was able to make really close friends that I’m sure will last forever. My Housemistress made Gloucester a real community and I always knew I could go to her with any problems.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR UNIVERSITY AND FIELD OF STUDY?
I decided to do Liberal Arts at Bristol University so I could do a mix of humanities because I wanted to carry on with my subjects and try others.
AliceOINED Lower Sixth
A LEVEL RESULTS: A* A* A and A* for EPQ
UNIVERSITY Cardiff
COURSE: Psychology
HOW DID YOU FIND JOINING ST JOHN’S IN LOWER SIXTH?
I joined St John’s in Lower Sixth and was made to feel welcome straight away. Having previously struggled with certain aspects of school life due to ADHD, I was supported from the get-go by my teachers and the Learning Development Department. I cannot overstate how grateful I am for this as it not only completely changed my attitude towards learning, but also my results. I am really proud of the progress I made during my time at St John’s, going on to receive an A* in English literature, an A* in psychology and an A in history.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT ST JOHN’S?
Some highlights for me include taking part in the musical Miss Saigon, and house events such as part song and water polo!
I have made friends for life at St John’s and will always be so thankful to the amazing teachers.
St John’s School
T +44 (0)1372 373000
school@stjohns.surrey.sch.uk
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